The Best Of Marat Khusnutdinov | Minnesota Wild Prospect | Hockey Highlights | HD

Marat Khusnutdinov is an ice hockey centre who plays for SKA-1946 in the MHL. He made his KHL debut for SKA Saint Petersburg during the 2020–21 season. Khusnutdinov was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 37th pick overall.

Fantasy Summary
A high-energy playmaker who makes things happen whenever he steps on the ice. A responsible two-way center who plays a strong 200-foot game. Slightly undersized but doesn’t shy away from action. Good leadership abilities.

He plays the full 200-feet of the ice, with one of the best motors in this class. He’ll relentlessly backcheck as play transitions towards the defensive zone, and his ability to track developing plays while he’s skating at full speed really impressed us over the year. Khusnutdinov is also proficient at carrying the puck into the offensive zone. -EliteProspects 2020 NHL Draft Guide

Dylan Griffing – Dobber Prospects – Sept. 30th: “Marat Khusnutdinov defines high-energy, high-tempo, aggressive hockey. He’s an undersized center who lacked key production in the MHL last season, which is off-putting to some, but his pure skill is just next-level.”

Scott Wheeler – The Athletic – Sept. 21st: “Khusnutdinov makes plays all over the ice. He’s a responsible three-zone player, he doesn’t shy away from playing to the interior, he’s got enough skill to make plays from the exterior and he tracks the play exceptionally well.”

Steve Kourmianos – The Draft Analyst – Aug. 10th: “His scope of responsibility increased dramatically while playing for Team Russia’s under-18 program, and Khusnutdinov’s relentless puck pursuit, playmaking, and open-ice execution were critical to gold-medal wins at the U18 Ivan Hlinka and the U20 World Jr.”

Chris Peters – ESPN – June 30th: “Khusnutdinov is not a big guy, but apparently no one told him that. He’s an aggressive player with an unrelenting motor and a lack of shyness when it comes to the physical game or the hard areas of the ice.”

Justin Haddad – The Hockey Writers – May 11th: “There will be a lot of teams that will shy away from him because of his small 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame, but his stature is deceptive on tape because of his highly competitive nature and aggressive style of play on both ends of the ice. He has an air of confidence about him which is evident on film with his high hockey IQ, fantastic vision, and creativeness.”

Cam Robinson – Dobber Prospects – Apr. 1st: “An impactful, all-around centre. Excellent play-driver who already boasts strong defensive ability. Plenty of runway ahead of him.”

Steve Koumianos – The Draft Analyst – Mar. 18th: “Khusnutdinov is a flashy and excitable player, albeit one who also pays attention to his defensive-zone responsibilities. He can beat you with his speed inside or outside, but also battle hard along the boards before slipping undetected into a soft area near the goal. Khusnutdinov is a natural center who can be an effective playmaker and also win the majority of his draws.”

Tony Ferrari – Dobber Prospects – Jan. 29th: “Marat Khusnutdinov may be the player who is the most fun to watch. He has an insane level of creativity and plays without fear. He uses his body to obtain body position so that he can take advatage of his excellent hands.”